When do you know it’s the right time?
Home care is a unique process that should never be taken lightly. There are multiple decisions to be made, often by multiple decision-makers. But how do you know when it is time to start the process? It is hard for anyone who has lived a fully independent life to realize they may need help. Not only is this a daunting topic to think about, let alone discuss, but it can also be nerve-wracking and hard to direct and even start the conversation. With the right research, connections, and communication, you can make this process easier for everyone involved. At Brightbridge, we take the time to understand the care needed and focus on the right match with the perfect caregiver who understands the client’s needs and the family dynamic to provide support.
Daily Living Challenges
One of the best things to do when you or your family is thinking about possible help at home is to become highly observant. Noticing minor changes over time can help you see the bigger picture. When our loved ones show signs of slowing down, there is no need to panic; instead, take mental notes and start asking questions so everyone can prepare for upcoming changes and transitions.
1. Noticeable Hygiene Changes and Decline
When we are around the ones we care about, we know how they tend to behave and, importantly, look. Hygiene is one of the most obvious and serious signs that someone is starting to struggle. They may look unkempt or disheveled, wear the same dirty clothes, and skip showers or baths. Hygiene is important not only for our health but also for overall comfort. If someone is showing signs of needing help, the right caregiver can bring comfort and care back into their life.
2. Trouble with Daily Household Chores
If the laundry isn’t being done at a normal rate, dishes are left unclean, and typical clutter remains in the same place you saw it on your last visit, something is definitely off. When someone is starting to lose strength, they conserve their energy as much as possible. Noticing this and being responsive can help you understand that a little extra help is needed to keep their environment clean and tidy. A clean home is a happy home.
3. Roadblocks with Food:
It can be easy to forget to get groceries sometimes, but when it leads to missed meals, it becomes a dangerous sign for someone who may not know how to ask for help. Forgetting to cook, or even leaving food out, is a noticeable sign that physical and/or mental changes are beginning. A caregiver would help keep the fridge organized, schedule snacks/meals, put away leftovers, meal prep, and even help with groceries.
4. Mobility Issues
Watching someone who is a bit slower and is constantly reaching for support (furniture, objects, railings, etc) while being a bit unsteady is a sign of mobility struggles. Limping can be a result of weakness but also of a sudden fall that you may not be aware of. If a loved one has a history of falls, then they are definitely in need of someone to be near during big movements, not to be overbearing but to make sure they are safe. The consequences of a fall can be detrimental to one’s health and lead to frequent hospital visits with a quicker physical and mental decline.
Behavioral & Mental Changes
1. Memory Lapses and Decline
Memory challenges are one of the quickest ways we can tell that someone is becoming less independent in their daily lives. There are multiple signs we can account for by observing, listening, and asking the right questions. Missing important medicines or appointments, forgetting to pay bills on time, and getting lost in familiar spaces can lead to someone needing a custom level of assistance every day. Memory decline looks different for every family and is extremely personal, so you want to make sure they feel supported, cared for, and not forgotten about. Everyone deserves a plan that best suits them, their situation, and their level of need. At Brightbridge, we take our time and are intentional when serving our families.
2. Distance from Family, Friends, and Activities
We all have our go-tos for activities that bring us joy. Our family and friends are our vital support system and one of our main sources for happiness and overall well-being. When someone we care about starts to pull away not only from hobbies but also from loved ones, it is a clear sign they are beginning to slow down and struggle with the daily tasks that help them feel like themselves. At Brightbride, we want to ensure that families understand the dynamic of how our caregivers support them. Our caregivers aren’t there to take over or control anyone’s life, but to learn, support, and communicate with them about how they can make their clients’ day smooth and comfortable.
3. Mood Swings and Unstable Emotions.
Emotions are tricky to control for all of us, but when we notice that someone who is normally positive, happy, and naturally upbeat starts to become agitated, tense, and sad regularly, we should assume that we need to start asking questions about how they’re doing at home and if that person is starting to struggle in any way. The sooner we recognize these struggles, the sooner we can have a caregiver begin taking over the heavy lifting. We want to make sure that the right help is in the home so that everyone has a sense of stability.
We would love to speak with you.
Your loved ones are important to you, and they deserve care that meets them where they’re at. We specialize in bringing quality care to families without the stress and fear of the unknown. Give us a call, and we will walk you through our BrightMatch process.
We are here to help when you are ready!
To figure out what best suits you or your family’s needs, you first need to look at the current situation or common circumstances. Life is always changing and throwing new things at us, so here at Brightbridge Home Care, we understand that needs shift and plans are always revised to ensure the best care. Please call us at (317) 995-6261 or email us at care@brightbridgehomecare.com for more information or questions concerning care.